Puzzling

By REY O. ARCILLA
MALAYA

‘I hope the next time Noynoy mentions the NFA anomaly during the Arroyo regime, it would be to tell us that charges have been filed against the responsible parties.’

NEWLY reelected US President Barack Hussein Obama is attending the summit meetings of ASEAN and its dialogue partners in Phnom Penh a week from now. He is also visiting Myanmar and Thailand.

Why Thailand? The US never had an easy time getting what they want from the Thais. They are a pragmatic people but they are at the same time fiercely nationalistic as some, if not all, of our neighbors are. “You want this? Okay, we want this in return. Take it or leave it.” That is how they deal with other powers. And they get respect that way.

I remember the time when the US lost the war in Vietnam. The Thais, without any qualms or hesitation, told the US to get out of the country posthaste. The US had at least seven military bases in Thailand at the time. Thailand allowed those bases on her soil during the war simply because it served her own national interests, not the US’.

Why Myanmar? The US does not want to be left behind in putting up businesses in that near-virgin land where natural resources are quite abundant. Obama is going there because the military rulers have decided to open up for business with the world. Remember how the UK prime minister hastily went there recently and openly declared that they were ready to do business with Myanmar? The US motive is no different.

So, why is Obama not coming to the Philippines, his country’s “special” friend in these parts? Obama and his advisers obviously believe there is no need for him to drop in and say hello to Noynoy who has already called on him at the White House. A return courtesy call is apparently alien to them.

What the heck for? We have long been in the US pocket anyway. She has also already gotten what she wants from us and more. She doesn’t need to court us any further. We have been most accommodating to her pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. And it cost her next to nothing. Oh, there was a promise of $21 million more aid next year. Big deal!

The US now uses our ports and airfields for free. Worse, she again uses our land and territorial waters to dump her toxic waste. I am not a nuclear scientist but I am sure her nuclear-powered warships that are now coming in droves to our shores must be producing nuclear waste as well. What more can she possibly need from us? Nada.

And we are so grateful for her increased military presence in our area because of the perceived military threat from China. We don’t realize that the US will never tangle with China to help protect our sovereignty over some shoals and atolls in the West Philippine Sea. The US pivot to this region is intended to protect her own national interests, not ours! Strangely, or funnily, our leaders don’t seem to realize that.

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I couldn’t help feeling enraged the instant I read the headline about US toxic waste being dumped in Manila and Subic bays.

Doggone it, when the US left Clark and Subic some twenty years ago, she also left behind her toxic waste! And she never cleaned it up. Today, our people are still suffering from the ill effects of that waste.

Yet here she is again dumping waste on our territory. Surely, she must have known what her contractors were doing.

With the high frequency of US warships and aircraft coming into the country, expect more toxic waste to be dumped on us. The US doesn’t even have to worry about it. Our very own people, the so-called Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement, has reportedly blocked attempts to have the US-engaged contractor investigated! Ano ba ‘yan?!

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So what are we to do? More Senate hearings on the VFA? Fine. But this time, we ought to be more serious about getting a fair deal from the US. We have to make them pay fair and just compensation for using our land and sea and soiling our environment in the process due to their pivot to these parts to promote and protect her own national interests.

We must tell her exactly what we need and want in terms of dollars and cents. I have suggested often enough $3 billion a year. In fact, as a Major Non-Nato Ally (MNNA), we don’t even have to ask. Afghanistan, another MNNA, will reportedly be getting $4 billion a year after the US and her NATO allies leave next year. The US will resist at first, but if we stand our ground, she will come around. In the process, we will also get respect and better treatment that we hugely deserve.

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Judging from stories I hear about Noynoy, he does seem to be the right person to deal with the Americans. A good sign is when he chose not to congratulate Obama by phone. As his chief mouthpiece said, a congratulatory letter is sufficient. (He should be wary of his Amboy of a foreign secretary though.) His decision to acquire our military requirements from sources other than the US (France, Canada, Italy, Poland, South Korea) is an unmistakable sign that he is not wont to depend solely on the US. It seems he is also not prone to kowtowing to foreigners especially where the national interest is concerned. It is time he told off our US ally that we deserve better treatment. Can he do it? Will he do it? He should.

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Without a doubt, President Noynoy Aquino has done some good for the country, especially in the fight against graft and corruption. But, as he himself says, there’s a lot more to be done.

There is also the apparent inconsistency with which he pursues the good fight.

A prime example is what allegedly transpired in the National Food Administration (NFA) during the unlamented Arroyo regime. In his first state of the nation address in July 2010, Noynoy referred to the anomalous rice importation by the agency that was so excessive that the stock had been rotting away in warehouses paid for by the government.

He mentioned the anomaly again on several occasions thereafter. For some reason, he likes doing it when he is abroad. The latest was when he was in Laos last week. Before that, he mentioned it in Sydney last month.

And yet, he has apparently not done anything about it in two and a half years – unless, of course, he is in fact doing something quietly behind the scenes.

His first appointee as NFA head has already resigned to run for Congress with nary a word about what has been done so far. He did try to justify additional rice importation by the agency though.

Puzzling, don’t you think?

I hope the next time Noynoy mentions the anomaly wherever that might be, it would be to tell us that charges have been filed against the responsible parties.

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Reminders (for Noynoy’s action):

1) Filing of charges against of­ficials of the National Food Administration (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documentary evidence to prove the venalities in the past in that agency.

2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia.

3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant cor­ruption in the military and police establishments.

4) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.

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Today is the 191st day of the sixth year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

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From an internet friend:

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep.

Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, “Kemo Sabe, look at sky, what you see?”

The Lone Ranger replies, “I see millions of stars.”

“What that tell you?” asked Tonto.

The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, “Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning. Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Tonto?”

“You dumber than buffalo. It tell someone stole tent.”

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Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com